Quick installation fireplace screen

ABSTRACT

An easily installed fireplace screen support and face bar assembly. Both the screen support rod and face bar are spring biased between the opposite side walls of the fireplace opening. The face bar assembly comprises a channel member forming the face bar, a lock plate anchored in the channel, a toothed insert slidably disposed in the channel and a spring arrangement disposed between the lock plate and insert to urge the insert outwardly against the side wall.

United States Patent 1 1 Stuart I 1 Oct. 2, 1973 1 1 QUICK INSTALLATION FIREPLACE SCREEN Inventor: Hershel L. Stuart, Huntington Woods, Mich.

[731 Assignee: Federals, Inc., Southfield, Mich.

[22] Filed: Aug. 5, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 169,194

[52] US. Cl 160/19, 160/39, 160/D1G. 9 [51] Int. Cl E06b 9/00 [58] Field of Search ..211/105.3,105.5,

211/1056; l6/87.4 R, DIG. 11, 87 B; 52/173; 292/175, 162-164; 248/264; 126/138, /19, 38, 39,DIG. 9

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,902,709 9/1959 Noxon 211/105.6 X 2,608,420 8/1952 211/1055 X 1,794,643 3/1931 292/ 2,639,177 5/1953 Smith 292/163 X 3,137,890 6/1964 Kochanowski 211/1056 X 3,061,004 10/1962 Ncwhury 211/1055 X 3,103,280 9/1963 248/264 X 2,644,191 7/1953 Meyer 248/264 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 531,328 9/1955 Italy 292/175 Primary ExaminerFrank L. Abbott Assistant ExaminerCarl D. Friedman Attorney-Thomas N. Young [57] ABSTRACT An easily installed fireplace screen support and face bar assembly. Both the screen support rod and face bar are spring biased between the opposite side walls of the fireplace opening. The face bar assembly comprises a channel member forming the face bar, a lock plate anchored in the channel, a toothed insert slidably disposed in the channel and a spring arrangement disposed between the lock plate and insert to urge the insert outwardly against the side wall.

2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED 0U 2 1973 All sum 1 UF 2 IN VENTOR AT TO RN EYS 1 QUICK INSTALLATION FIREPLACE SCREEN This invention relates to fireplace screens and more particularly to a face bar assembly which is adapted to extend between the side walls of a fireplace opening for the purpose of concealing a screen support rod.

It is well known that fireplace screens are often supported in the fireplace opening by means of a support bar which extends between the opposite side walls of the fireplace opening and which may be expanded out wardly against the fireplace walls by means of a threaded expansion unit, thus, to be self-supporting. A disadvantage of such apparatus is the possibility of loss of adequate gripping force on the fireplace side walls due to thermal cycling and the resulting expansion and contraction of the bar over a prolonged period. In addition, these expander bar assembiles are sometimes difficult and time consuming to install due in part to the fact that the fireplace openings come in various widths and, thus, portions of each expander bar assembly must be cut or otherwise formed to the proper size. This requires at least partial disassembly, cutting, and reassembly.

In accordance with the present invention, the fireplace screen is supported by means of a simple springbiased telescopic support rod which is very quickly installed in place. Further, the present invention calls for a facebar assembly which, like the screen support rod, is also disposed between and supported by the side walls of the fireplace opening, the face bar assembly being disposed parallel to and spaced from the screen support rod to conceal the screen support rod and to enhance the appearance of the screen installation.

According to the present invention, the face bar assembly is quickly and easily installed in place without requiring disassembly, either partial or whole, during sizing operations and without requiring the usual expensive and often difficult-to-use expander bar mechanisms. In general, this is accomplished by means of a simple, yet unique and utilitarian, face bar assembly wherein the face bar itself comprises a continuous, rigid channel member and the gripping mechanism comprises an insert which is slideably disposed in the channel at one end of the face bar member and which is urged outwardly into engagement with a side wall of the fireplace opening by means of a spring-bias assembly carried by the face bar member.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention which is described in detail hereinafter, the face bar assembly comprises a continuous rectangular sheet of steel stock having the upper and lower longitudinal edges bent over toward one another to form a continuous channel. This channel receives an insert member having a pair of sharp teeth extending longitudinally from the channel bar member and which is urged outwardly into engagement with a fireplace side wall by means of a compression spring which is carried on a guide member and which is anchored against a lock plate which is also disposed in the channel defined by the face bar member. The entire assembly is preferably fabricated from steel and may be finished in a number of suitable finishes, such as flat black or brass.

The specific embodiment of the invention and the various features and advantages thereof will be more apparent from a reading of the following specification which specification is to be taken with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a fireplace opening with the subject invention installed therein;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view, partly in section and with parts broken away, of the screen support and face bar assemblies at one end thereof;

FIG. 3 is a top or plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 2 as installed in the fireplace opening;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along a section line 4-4 of the apparatus of FIG. 2; and,

FIG. 5 is an exploded rear view in perspective of the face bar assembly of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. I, there is shown a fireplace screen support and face bar assembly 10 disposed in a fireplace opening having opposite side walls 12 and 14 and carrying a two-part fireplace screen 16. The screen 16 is split down the middle and each section is adapted to be manually pulled back from the closed position toward the closest side wall, either 12 or 14, of the fireplace opening for the insertion of wood and tending of the fire. Handles 17 are provided for moving the screen sections in either direction. As best shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the screen support and face bar assembly 10 comprises two separate and distinct subassemblies these being the screen support assembly 18 and the face bar assembly 20.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 through 5, the face bar assembly 20 is shown to comprise a face bar member 22 made of a single, rectangular sheet of steel stock having the upper and lower edges 24 and 26, respectively, bent over to form a continuous longitudinal channel from one end of the face bar member 22 to the other. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the ends of the face bar 22 are cut square and may be trimmed for length by means of a suitable metal saw to the width of the fireplace opening or, more accurately, approximately one-eigth of an inch less than the overall width of the fireplace opening for purposes which will become apparent.

Slidablydisposed in the left end of the face bar 22, as shown in FIG. 2, is an insert member 28 formed in a tri-planar configuration for stiffness and of a vertical dimension so as to fit snugly but slidably in the channel defined by the edges 24 and 26 of the face bar member 22. The insert member 28 is substantially square on the interior end, but is provided with sharp teeth 30 and 32 on the other end. These teeth are adapted to engage and grip the surface of the side wall 12 when the insert member 28 is placed against this side wall during installation and normal use of the apparatus, such as will be further described hereinafter.

The insert member 28 is adapted to be urged longitudinally outwardly against the side wall to which it is attached by a spring bias assembly comprising a lock plate 34 of square but triplanar configuration which is snugly, slidably moved into place in the channel which is defined by the face bar 22. Lock plate 34 abuts against rivets 36 and 38 in the bent-over edges 24 and 26, respectively, to limit the travel of the lock plate 34 and to anchor it in place against the force of the spring means to be described. Any suitable stop arrangement may be substituted for the rivets 36 and 38, such as dimples or notches in the folded-back edges 24 and 26 to serve as anchoring points or obstructions to the lock plate 34.

Lock plate 34 carries a guide bar 40 which is attached by means of a rivet 42 to the lock plate 34 and which extends longitudinally toward the near end of the face bar 22. The guide bar 40 ends in a circular portion 44 which carries a pin 46. Pin 46 is adapted to be inserted in the slot opening 48 of the insert 28 to a form a lost-motion connection with the insert 28 and to limit the travel thereof. Finally, a compression spring 50 is disposed about the guide bar 40 and abuts mechanically on its opposite ends against the edges of the lock plate 34 and the insert member 28, respectively. Accordingly, the spring 50 tends to urge the insert 28 away from the lock plate 34 and, thus, longitudinally outwardly from the near end of the face bar 22.

It has been found that the pin 46 and the slot opening 48 may be eliminated without loss of significant functional advantage in the assembly 20 of FIG. 2 and, thus, the presence of these structures is not to be deemed a necessity insofar as the specific embodiment of the invention is concerned.

Looking now to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the fireplace screen support assembly 18 is shown to comprise a ho]- low support rod 52 having a pointed solid steel insert (not shown) mechanically locked in place in one end by means of a circular crimp. The insert is provided with a sharp steel point to engage side wall 14, for example, of the fireplace opening shown in FIG. 1. The support rod 52 is tapered to the other end and receives telescopically therein a solid steel insert rod 60. Rod 60 is terminated in a sharp point 62 which engages side wall 12, for example, of the fireplace opening. A heavy compression spring (not shown) is disposed in the support rod 52 to urge the insert rod 60 outwardly against the side wall. The fireplace screen 16 is of the usual spark-proof mesh type and is provided with a number of rings 68 which are adapted to be disposed over and around the main support rod 52 to permit the screen to traverse the rod in the usual fashion.

OPERATION In the application of the apparatus thus far described, the screen support assembly 18 is assembled by inserting a spring into the support rod 52 and then placing the insert rod 60 telescopically into the main support rod 52 after it has been cut to the proper length. Slug type inserts may be placed in rod 52 first if the fireplace opening is particularly wide. The screen 16 is placed on the support rod 52 by sliding the rings 68 over the support rod in the usual traverse fashion. The insert rod 60 is urged into the support rod 52 by placing the point 62 against the side wall of the fireplace opening and applying a compressive force. The point on the opposite end of rod 52 is then properly located on the other side wall of the fireplace and the compression spring is allowed to expand, thus, holding the entire screen assembly 18 in position in the fireplace opening. The necessary adjustments are easily made in an obvious fashion.

Following the installation of the main support rod 52 and the screen 16, the face bar assembly 20 is disposed in place. This is accomplished by cutting the face bar 22 to the proper width and by first sliding the lock plate 34 partially into the channel defined by the face bar 22 along with the spring 50 and the guidebar 40 which is previously riveted or otherwise secured to the lock plate 34. The pin 46 in the guide bar 40 is disposed in and through the slot opening 48 in the insert 28 (where the pin and slot are used) and the insert is slidably disposed into the channel defined by the face bar 22. The now-connected combination of the lock plate 34 and the insert 28 is moved to the right, as shown in FIG. 3,

until the lock plate 34 rests against the rivets 36 and 38 for anchoring purposes. At this point the face bar is put in a position parallel to, but in front of, the previously installed screen support rod 52 for concealment purposes as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. This is readily accomplished by compressing the spring 50 and urging the insert 28 farther into the channel defined by the face bar 22 and then maneuvering the face bar 22 into the proper position. At this point the face bar 22 is released and the spring 50 urges the insert 28 outwardly and by means of the outward and opposite forces at the opposite sides of the face bar, the assemby 20 is maintained in position by friction.

It is to be understood that the planar face 72 of the face bar 22 faces outwardly relative to the fireplace opening. The face bar 22 and the associated parts are preferably made of steel and may be finished in a variety of finishes including flat black and brass finishes as examples.

It is to be understood that the invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiment and the foregoing description is not to be construed as limiting the invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. For use in combination with a fireplace screen support member which extends between the opposite side walls of a fireplace opening: a face bar assembly wholly separate from said screen support member and adapted to extend between said side walls parallel to but spaced forwardly from said support member to conceal said member and comprising a longitudinal channel substantially equal in length to the distance between said opposite side walls, said face bar member including a facial surface, which is substantially in a vertical plane when said member is installed, and opposite edge flanges defined by turned-back longitudinal edges of said unitary face bar member, said edge flanges being turned back relative to said facial surface through an angle of between and an insert member of short length relative to the face bar member slidably disposed in the channel at one side of the face bar member, said insert member being triplanar in configuration 10 and defining a central surface which is parallel to but spaced from the inner side of the facial surface of the face bar member when installed therein, and edge surfaces which are complemental to the edge flanges of said face bar member, and spring bias means connected between the face bar member and the insert member for urging the insert member longitudinally outwardly toward the side wall to be engaged thereby said bias means comprising a lock plate of triplanar configuration and defining a central surface which is parallel to, but spaced from, the inner side of the facial surface of said face bar member, an elongated guide bar secured to the lock plate mediate said central surface and said facial surface and extending longitudinally along said channel, means connecting the opposite end of said guide bar to said insert member mediate the central surface thereof and the inner side of said facial surface, spring means on said guide bar and trapped between said lock plate and said insert member to urge said insert member longitudinally outwardly along said channel, said insert member having sharpened teeth formed on the edge thereof which is disposed toward the nearest open end of said face bar member includes an elongated slot opening therein said guide member having a pin extending through said slot opening to form a lost motion connection thcrebctween. 

1. For use in combination with a fireplace screen support member which extends between the opposite side walls of a fireplace opening: a face bar assembly wholly separate from said screen support member and adapted to extend between said side walls parallel to but spaced forwardly from said support member to conceal said member and comprising a longitudinal channel substantially equal in length to the distance between said opposite side walls, said face bar member including a facial surface, which is substantially in a vertical plane when said member is installed, and opposite edge flanges defined by turnedback longitudinal edges of said unitary face bar member, said edge flanges being turned back relative to said facial surface through an angle of between 90* and 180*, an insert member of short length relative to the face bar member slidably disposed in the channel at one side of the face bar member, said insert member being triplanar in configuration and defining a central surface which is parallel to but spaced from the inner side of the facial surface of the face bar member when installed therein, and edge surfaces which are complemental to the edge flanges of said face bar member, and spring bias means connected between the face bar member and the insert member for urging the insert member longitudinally outwardly toward the side wall to be engaged thereby , said bias means comprising a lock plate of triplanar configuration and defining a central surface which is parallel to, but spaced from, the inner side of the facial surface of said face bar member, an elongated guide bar secured to the lock plate mediate said central surface and said facial surface and extending longitudinally along said channel, means connecting the opposite end of said guide bar to said insert member mediate the central surface thereof and the inner side of said facial surface, spring means on said guide bar and trapped between said lock plate and said insert member to urge said insert member longitudinally outwardly along said channel, said insert member having sharpened teeth formed on the edge thereof which is disposed toward the nearest open end of said face bar member, and means in said face bar member for stopping said lock plate in a predetermined position along said face bar member whereby the teeth of said insert member protrude from said nearest open end.
 2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the insert member includes an elongated slot opening therein, said guide member having a pin extending through said slot opening to form a lost motion connection therebetween. 